“You want absolutely nothing to do with me for weeks, but now you’re blocking the exit? What are you—“

“Just need to talk to you. It’s not—“

“Crazy?”

“What you think. Or maybe it is…” I trail off, the silence between us profound, awkward.

Lily shoves me hard. My legs get tangled up in the cart and I land on my ass on the cold linoleum.

“I guess I deserved that.”

Two

“What are we doing here?” Lily asks as I shut and lock the door behind us, laughing when I wiggle my eyebrows at her. Her eyes narrow. “What deviant things do you have planned?”

“What deviant things do you want me to have planned?” I flip a set of light switches and the bar is partially lit up.

She shrugs. “You brought me to your favorite place. What do you intend to do with me?”

“Don’t you know by now?” I slowly make my way to her, my eyes trailing up the length of her black shorts and purple tank top and fixating on her eyes.

“Know what?” Lily swallows, fidgeting as I advance.

“You, Lily Jacobs, are my favorite place.”

Lily starts to reply as I grab her around the waist and spin her around, loving the sound of the giggle she lets out, loving the way she feels in my arms, just loving her. Around and around we go, until I’m dizzy, until I try to stop and stumble instead. Lily squeals, clutching my arms when I sway on my feet. I stop us with my back against the edge of the counter of the bar, each of us catching our breath.

“Grayson, we’re in a bar.”

“Yep.”

“What are we doing here?”

I look around said bar, my eyes lingering on the jukebox in the far corner of the room. “We’re going to play music.”

“Music. Got it.”

A grin captures my mouth. “And we’re going to dance.”

Lily nods her head. “Dancing. Check.”

“And maybe even sing.”

“I am not singing, Grayson!”

“Aw, come on. It’ll be fun. We can sing a duet, Sonny and Cher or something.”

Something that sounds strangely like a curse is muttered by Lily and my grin deepens as I start the jukebox. ‘Here’s To Never Growing Up’ by Avril Lavigne slams through the room, causing Lily to jump.

“Did you even ask your bosses if this was okay? Are we going to be arrested?” she shouts, cupping her mouth with her hands.

An eye roll is the only acknowledgement her words get. I walk into the open room used for EY, stop in the middle of the room, and motion to her. “Come on. Don’t be shy.”

Her arms uncross and she does an eye roll especially for me, but Lily is smiling. She sporadically shakes her hips as she makes her way to me, dipping backward at one point and making my mouth go dry. She defied the laws of gravity with that move. My girlfriend is awesome.

“Okay, Grayson. You asked for it. Just remember that,” she says as she tugs the ponytail holder from her hair and shakes out the black waves. Lily messes up her hair, purses her lips, and starts jumping up and down in a circle, completely shameless as she jams out to Avril. I watch her, mesmerized and astounded, and so completely turned on it is embarrassing.

She grabs my hands, pulling me along with her. We move together, ours hips bumping, our fingers entwining and releasing, laughing as we give in to the pull of the beat. ‘Cecilia’ by Simon and Garfunkel plays after that. I sing along, bouncing to the music, Lily grinning widely as she dances with me. Endless minutes pass with us in the throes of sound and being carefree. This moment, right now, is one I will cherish for all time. Even as I am living it, I understand the significance of this span of time. We are free, laughing, and in love.

Three

Aidan hesitates, hovering over my shoulder. “Grayson?”

“Yeah?”

“Why did you and Lily break up?”

I shut the laptop and get to my feet, causing Aidan to backpedal. Pain usually slashes through me at the sound of her name and this time is no different.

Glasses back on my face and straightened once, twice, three times, I finally meet my brother’s eyes. “Because she wanted me to do something for myself, regardless of what I wanted. She was unselfish.”

A frown fits to his mouth. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Not when the end result is my heart being ripped out, Aidan, no. I wanted her to be selfish, to want me more than anything. Only she didn’t. She wanted to do the right thing. You know what happens to people that do the right thing, Aidan?”

He stares at me, not speaking, maybe not even understanding the semi-rant I’m on. “What?” Aidan finally asks.

Eyes rolling, I sigh with exasperation. “Not okay. Don’t listen to me. Ever. You should know that by now.”

“Okay.” Aidan slowly nods.

About the Author-

Lindy Zart has been writing since she was a child. Luckily for readers, her writing has improved since then. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two sons, and one cat. Lindy loves hearing from people who enjoy her work.

Oh my gosh! I have loved Emma Edwards since I first read Sanguinary but this story tore me apart! She has a knack for doing that and it is amazing but at the same time it hurts! I've gotten so invested in Ash and Angel's story that each time something bad happens to them, I feel my stomach drop and my heart break. Then, when things are good, I feel my stomach tangle into knots because I know that something is going to happen to drop that happiness out from under them. Emma Edwards is amazing at writing vampires stories.

Angel and Ash haven't changed from Sanguined or Imbrued. Ash still has anger problems that drive him to the brink of insanity and Angel copes with her stress by drinking to the point she is too drunk to even know her own name. But, they're still together and that's how they plan on staying. At least they hope.

It's Angel and Ash's wedding day! Everything is perfect...for the most part. The only thing that is wrong is that Angel's dad still hates Ash and Ash's dad still refuses to acknowledge that he's even alive. Aside from that, it's the best day of either of their lives. Ash's anger is held at bay no matter what he's put through. But when Angel finds a stake, she loses it.

After being convinced that she shouldn't tell Ash, she goes about the rest of her night and her honeymoon with ease. But when their peaceful getaway is interrupted, Ash loses it because Angel has kept the secret from him. When they get home, they tell the rest of the family that they're dealing with what appears to be another slayer and decide to do what they can to keep the house safe.

Erebis is going big and Angel has been supporting them the entire way. Even if Jay and Kieran are both hitting on her and wanting her to be theirs. Angel tours with them until she starts getting sick. When she can't take it anymore, she goes home in hopes of resting up and getting back to the tour with the band.

As things spiral out of control. People who are meant to be trusted turn out to be people that can't be trusted. Also, things don't always appear as they should. It's the old saying "don't judge a book by it's cover." Just because all the evidence points in one direction doesn't mean that it goes the opposite way.

Ash and Angel continue to have their back and forths and Angel finds that Ash's need to possess her and be possessive of her grate her nerves because she wants to be possessive of him as well. No matter what though, they manage to find their way through it all and stay together, even if it looks as if they shouldn't.

Ash's anger is legendary and in this it spirals to new proportions. It's amazing how much anger Ash holds not only at himself, but at the world. But, it's not because he's angry, it's because he's scared.

All I have to say is that Emma Edwards gave Ash and Angel the perfect ending and while I'm deeply saddened to see this series end, I know that I'll always remember Ash's and Angel's story and be able to go back and re-read it so that I can experience it all over again.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Hecate didn't dabble in dark magic. Watching her lover die at the end of another man's sword changed that. In a single act of vengeance, she turned her lover's killer into a werewolf and cursed him for eternity. It was A Witch's Curse to rival all others and it was her last act as a goddess.

Drago despised being a werewolf. He spent thousands of years searching for an antidote, only to discover that the witch who cursed him, also had to cure him. Unfortunately, that witch died lifetimes ago. Undeterred, he continued to search. Two years ago he found Hecate's remains lying in a crypt hidden deep within the Louisiana Bayou. Today, he watched a coven of witches bring her back to life.

He killed her lover. She damned him for all time. Can two souls who are destined to be eternal enemies, learn to forgive enough to live again?

More than a century after the tragedy of Hélène's death and before Ella found Kale bruised and broken on her doorstep, Kale moved through the world in a haze of personal punishment allowing it to consume him. Until his friend, Detective Deacon, a newly infected Chorý calls on him for a favor.

In this prequel to the Few Are Angels series, Kale is thrown into a world of human blood trafficking and is introduced to a Chorý that offers him a chance at happiness— in blood.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Margaret Collins has been marked by Mike Taylor in a way that only the one person you truly love can do to you.

After having her heart broken by him, she decides to leave their town and reinvent herself into someone who hasn't had their heart broken. Everything changes from her looks to her job, and where she lives.

For her first assignment Riley Williams (Margaret) must interview the man who broke her heart all those years ago. All the different emotions that she felt then and is feeling now boil up and leave her with two questions.

Should she get revenge on him?

Or should she let the past stay in the past and live with the man who she's deeply in love with?

Can Riley forgive Mike and just look forward the what the future can hold? Or will she let her past continue to haunt her and keep her from being truly happy?

Kim Carmichael does a great job at showing the emotions that Riley goes through when she meets Mike again. The characters are fully developed and it keeps the reader wanting to read what is going to happen next.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

This book was HOT. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Every turn of the page kept me begging for more. Having this as a first book definitely should put Mila Elizabeth Brenton towards the top of their "Authors they must watch" list. I can't wait to see what else she comes out with.

Avery is a romance author. She pours her heart and soul into her writing, but that's not all her life is. Every night she finds herself talking to the same guy. She knows her feelings for him, but also knows she can't act upon them. One reason being that she thinks she'll never meet him.

Jace spends his entire life in the written word. He turns books into movies and loves doing it. But, when his life starts to fall apart, he finds that it no longer brings him joy. Instead the highlight of his day is talking to her.

When the two finally meet, the flames only grow and become even hotter than it was for them just talking through the computer. Without any regrets, Avery and Jace find what they were looking for in each other, and it's not just the hot sex.

This erotic novelette is just that. Erotic. It contains mature content and is definitely only intended for those who are 18 and older.

Monday, September 23, 2013

After escaping to a college town, Juliana Petersen was determined to put her troubled past behind her and make the most of life. She was satisfied with her current situation, or so she thought. It wasn’t until the day her new photography professor stole her parking spot that she realized there was such thing as lust at first sight. Now, she must struggle with the decision to break the rules and fall in love, or step back and let the chance of a lifetime pass her by—all while her past relationships come back to haunt her.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Enemy Lines

by Juliette Michaels

Enemy Lines is the story of Rebel Leader Rachel Lawton and Sovereignty Agent Noah Connor struggling to survive in a dystopian America. Rachel is being set up for a traitor's fall while Noah has been sent in to assure her assassination. Can Rachel stop Noah from trading intelligence that will affect thousands of lives? When Noah starts to fall in love, will he go through with the assassination or put other lives at risk by letting Rachel live?

Author Bio

Juliette Michaels is a New Adult and Adult Romance writer (Juliette writes YA under the pen A.J.M. Mousseau.)
I was born in San Diego and have lived all over the U.S. including New York, Hawaii, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Montana, Arizona, and Washington state.
I am a university student studying Modern Literature and Creative Writing.

Author Links

Excerpts

My Review for Enemy Lines:
The unlikely love story of a Rebel leader and a Sovereignty Agent.
Noah is sent to kill Rachel while she's trying to keep him from getting his hands on some secrets that could hurt more people than he realizes. The struggle between them is one that keeps the reader going till the end. Rachael tries all she can think of to make sure that Noah doesn't share the information and Noah starts to fall in love with Rachael. When he does. Does he go through with his mission and kill her? Or does he stop and trade sides to be with her and make sure that she stays alive?

Dr. Palta Capal would be a typical American career woman…if only she were human.

She has found her calling in this world as a physician. It’s an ideal outlet for her compassionate spirit...and unearthly healing powers.

Palta may spend her nights rereading Jane Austen novels, but she deliberately avoids pursuing her own love story. Human men — attractive as they may be — inevitably grow old and wither, leaving her to grieve in solitude. Frankly, no one has seemed worth the torment.

Enter Eric Moran, the intensely attractive and enigmatic new coworker on the scene. With his quiet confidence and warm smile, he manages to draw Palta’s attention. Little does she know that he, too, holds a secret…one that will propel them both into an escalating collision of two worlds.

Friday, September 20, 2013

This was a great romance book. Not only did it keep the reader interested, but it shows the change in a woman who goes from doing what others what to doing what she wants.

Gabriella is a devote daughter who does everything that her parents want of her to make them proud. She has also been a loyal girlfriend to David for four years. That was until her graduation trip with her parents.

Out of character for Ella, she goes to a party alone and meets Jonathan. While with Jonathan, she does things she's never done before. Before it can go too far, she quickly leaves not thinking that she'd ever see him again..but she was wrong.

Back home Ella is a nurse in the new cancer ward at the hospital a few blocks from her townhouse. She's still loyal to David, but somehow knows that it's not going to work. Just when she thinks that, Jonathan comes back in her life.

How does Jonathan take Ella from being the woman who does everything that she's told to a woman who thinks for herself and does what will make her happy? Does Ella stay with David, or does she leave him and go to Jonathan?

How do you live with the gut clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name.

Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on?

There was a deer to my left, simply watching me. She was beautiful and majestic. She came towards me the moment I wished I could pet her. My hand slowly reached out and touched her course coat. Huge brown eyes looked into mine. There was no fear.

“You’re lovely,” I whispered.

“So are you,” a deep voice said from behind me.

I turned violently, scaring the deer off into the trees. Mr. Sexy was standing five feet in front of me. Jeans and a fitted white t-shirt clothed his fit body.

“You’re here.”

“Of course I am, where else would I be?”

“I thought…well, I wasn’t sure if this was our dream or just mine.”

“It’s ours Livvie. It’s ours. Always ours.”

Excerpt #2

She calmed a bit. She seemed to sense I was near. Then…she whispered, “Mr. Sexy? Are you here?”

My heart almost stopped. How….there was no way she would be able to detect my presence. She was human and humans couldn’t observe us.

“I may be crazy and just talking to myself, but I feel like you just touched my face.”

My heart did stop this time. I slowly reached out and touched her face again, my thumb tracing circles around her chin. She gasped and reached her hand to mine. She was touching her face, but at the same time I could feel her.

Book Info-

Title- The Vessel

Series- The White Aura Book #2

By- Felicia Tatum

Published- April 18th, 2013

Blurb-

Scott and Olivia survived the dreaded dance, only to be faced with the aftermath of their meeting. Now, they are on the hunt for the descendant of Devlin Hart, the sorcerer who originally cast the curse on the Tabors family, while making the best of every moment they have together. With everything that's happening, will their love be able to make it?

Olivia’s happiness with Scott is cut short. When unexpected events thrust her in an interesting situation, she must make the best of what she has, while trying to save herself. She loves Scott, but can’t shake the uneasiness of what’s happening. When her parents are taken, her brother comes back to town, and mysterious men start following her, Olivia must reach deep inside to find her true self.

Scott is on the mission to break the curse on his beloved family, but will he also have to fight for Olivia's heart? When an interesting situation is thrown into their relationship, he must fight his jealousy and continue to woo the woman he loves. With the stress of the descendant and The Crimson Calamitous, will Scott be able to show Olivia just how much he cares for her before he loses her forever?

Groaning, I took her face in my hands, despite her resistance. I leveled our eyes, staring deeply into her lively green irises. “Love, I’m sorry. I’m jealous because of the way he looks at you. I don’t like it.”

Her face softened. Sighing, she placed her hands on mine. Her delicate fingers clenched around my palms, causing a tightening of desire in my stomach. Hot air exhaled out my nostrils as I tried to control my urges. My eyes roamed to her lips. Full and soft looking, I wanted to take them into my own and devour her right then and there.

“Scott, look at me.”

“I am,” I said hungrily. I licked my lips in anticipation. She bit hers in response and I groaned, moving closer to claim her.

Excerpt #2

“Crap. Mom is gonna be so pissed,” she muttered, her hand squeezing her temple.

Leaning down, I placed my hand on the tree, allowing my fingers to trail over the splintered wood. There was a dent where the bark had broken off. A very noticeable dent. I caressed the tree, mumbling how sorry I was to it when I heard J behind me, “Ummm….”

I turned quickly, wondering what in the heck had happened now. “What is it, J?”

“The tree…it’s…it’s growing back where you touch it, Liv,” she said, astonished.

“What?” I gave her a look that clearly showed how crazy I thought she was, but then, I looked back at the pine. Peering closer, I could see the dent wasn’t as large. My shaking hand lovingly rested on the top of the dent. I closed my eyes and thought only of restoring the tree back to its full self. I felt energy running through my body, a tingly sensation that warmed me to my core. Heat radiated out my palm, pouring life back into the tree. I don’t know how I knew when it was whole, but I did. It was like the energy sensed it and just stopped. I drew my hand back, feeling a little weak.

About the Author-

Felicia Tatum was born and raised in Tennessee. She always loved reading, and at the age of twelve began writing. Her passion for creating stories grew and in May 2012, she finally wrote her first novel, The White Aura.

She still lives in Tennessee with her daughter and her kitty. She loves cooking and books. Animals are some of her best friends. She watches a lot of Disney channel and often dreams up new book ideas. She's currently working on various other projects.